We have all waited patiently with fingers crossed to see if our pair of buzzards would settle down and raise a family on our webcam nest but after a lot of early activity they seem to gone to somewhere else. So not to worry here at Arne we have always got something else up our sleaves and I am sure a lot of you will remember our kestrel family from last year. They had a brilliant 2011 by succesfully raising four healthy chicks including the smallest one that worried a few people early on.
We have decided to put this nest back online now and you can also come and watch it in the visitor centre. The female is sitting on 5 eggs at the moment and this is the same as last year although one failed to hatch. We are not sure when she laid her eggs as she was already sitting on the 5 when we turned the camera back on a week ago. However we think she is at least 2 weeks earlier than last year and the first chick actually hatched on the 21st May 2011. It is a bit difficult to predict when they will hatch but the female will incubate for about 28. So given this information please feel free to have guesses on dates!
To Watch this webcam online follow the link on our main web page or click here http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/arne/webcam.aspx
Don't be confused by the buzzard information still on the page it will be updated in the next couple of days!
Hope you had a nice break Pudweena! They have grown so much, and lots of flapping to build up those flight muscles! Big fluff (as I've nicknamed him) is still quite chick like, but getting more like the others day by day. Check out Dorset Wildlife Trust webcams they have a kestrel who has 5 small chicks, I often watch them side by side, it's amazing to see they change so quickly. Anyone like to hazard a guess when the 1st chick will fledge? I think this weekend could be a good bet.
Michael - will the adults still bring food for the fledglings for a while?
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
Hi Pudweena, nice to see that you are back! Hope you had a good break? Yes the kestrels are pretty big now.
Jot - I think this weekend might be a bit early still but I think they will go sometime next week. Once the chicks fledge they will still hang around the barn and the meadows and the adults will feed them for at least another month! Last year they stayed around the barn for quite a while and gave people some really good views!
Thanks everyone, have just finished reading up on all the posts and captures since 9 May - brilliant, don't feel I've missed out too much now!
Hope you are better now JoT after your hospital spell and they've 'mended' your knee:-)
Hope you had a good hol yourself Michael - will be there at the weekend.
Now back to some serious Kestrelcamming.
Hi Everyone, hope you enjoyed your break PUDWEENA. Just logged on to see this lovely sight of sheer contentment.
Yes thanks Mims, what a brilliant capture :-)
Zombified!
I can't believe how 'grown up' the eldest looks; apart from a whisp of tell-tale down on its head. It looks like it's mum so could be female? Or is it too early to tell?
Unknown said: I can't believe how 'grown up' the eldest looks; apart from a whisp of tell-tale down on its head. It looks like it's mum so could be female? Or is it too early to tell?
Appx 10.15 breakfast was served but missed it, so fast! The youngest was at the back suspiciously tugging at something - so has eaten. The other 2 waited at the front for more grub to arrive. It's nice the way they don't fight over food, maybe they know they have such good parents, and that more will come soon.
All cuddled up together in the corner :-)
Got to go now, cam has been black and white for some time so hope it's back to normal for you all soon.